Safety mechanism for laundry apparatus

ABSTRACT

A safety mechanism which requires manual actuation after the door of a cabinet housing laundry apparatus has been closed to complete the electrical circuit to the drive motor of the apparatus. In its most simple form, the invention is characterized by a door switch mounted on the cabinet such that the switch plunger is aligned with an aperture in the door. A spring biased cam mechanism carried by the door adjacent the aperture can be manually depressed to traverse the aperture and cam the plunger of the door switch to an operative position, when the door is closed.

Unite Sttes tent [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1959Sisson...................

[72] Inventor Clayton L. Heller Mansfield,0hio AppLNo. 33,303 Filed200/6l.62 (X) ZOO/61.62 ZOO/61.76

3,145,818 8/1964 Stelli............... 3,091,675 5/1963Sholtes............ 3,488,463 1/1970 Mellinger.......

, Primary Examiner-H. 0. Jones [22] Apr. 30, 1970 [45] Patented Aug. 31,1971 [73] Assignee Westinghouse Electric Corporation Pittsburgh, Pa.

Attorneys-F. H. Henson and E. C. Arenz ABSTRAQT: A safety mechanismwhich requires manual ace e mw mmmw a fi O P dnmda m p w m P. ..nm a .lwo m amown r hC Ora di de nu V u mt a u tnh k OM ae w m. ds 6 tuationafter the door of a cabinet housin has been closed to complete theelectric motor of the apparatus. In its most sim is characterized by adoor switch mounted on that the switch plunger is aligned with an a Aspring biased cam mechanism carried b the aperture can be manually deture and cam the plunger of the position, when the door is closed.

2 A. m2 A .2 62 mm 1 l wmwA M HZ Y m w Mm m mm 6. my M m E s m N .m mm Aw mm m m D Ymm m T m LM l C WMC m WM A 3 mzm SA] U 1F M H m U l "DUPATENTED was! ism SHEEI 10? 2 ,PATENTED AUBM IQYI sum 2 OF 2 "FIG, 6.

AND CONTROLS WASHER TIMER MAIN SWITCH FIG. 7.

SAFETY MECHANISM FOR LAUNDRY APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thedoor switch generally comprises a switch having a plunger which isdepressed by the door being closed. The plunger normally extends to aposition such that it could be easily bumped or the switch could beactuated without the door being fully closed. As the door was sometimesopened during the cycle to check the clothing, merely bumping or closingthe door to a position that actuated the switch could start the machineunexpectedly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The door switch of the present invention ismounted in such a way that it will not complete the circuit unexpectedlybefore the door is fully closed. As a further safety precaution, thedoor switch of the present invention will not start upon the door beingfully closed unless the user thereafter performs another function suchas manipulating a door switch engaging mechanism to complete thecircuit. In its simplified form the present invention is characterizedby aligning the plunger of a well known door switch with an aperture inthe door such that upon closing the door the plunger is received withinthe aperture. A cam surface is mounted adjacent the aperture upon aspring biased push rod which extends from the exterior surface of thedoor. When the door is in the closed position, pushing the rod moves thecam surface across the aperture and cams the plunger into an actuatingor switch closing position with a switch being held in closed positionby the plunger resting within a notch in the cam surface to prevent itsreturn movement.

A modification of the invention is'characterized by mounting the doorswitch on a movable bracket behind the front panel of the laundryapparatus such that the plunger is aligned with an aperture in the frontpanel and is moved to a projecting position therethrough by the hingemechanism of the door camming the bracket to such a position. The doorand plunger mechanism remains the same as in the first embodiment sothat after the door is closed the switch is projected from the frontpanel into the door aperture and the push rod must again be manuallymoved to actuate the door switch.

A further modification includes mounting the door switch on a movablebracket as controlled by the door hinge such that closing the door tendsto move the bracket to its most forward position. The bracket means isnormally prevented from moving by a blocking mechanism which can bemanually removed to a nonblocking position allowing the bracket to moveforwardly and thereby cause the plunger to abut the front panel andclose the switch.

DRAWING DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 is a fragmented sectional view of the frontpanel and door of a front loading washing machine including themechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. I with a door closed and the doorswitch engaged by the mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. I of a second embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. I of a further embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of another embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 6 isa front view of FIG. 5; and FIG. 7 is a schematic circuitdiagram.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A washing machine generallycomprises a boxlike outer cabinet having an opening for access to thetub supported therein and a door for closing the opening duringoperation of the machine. The machine also includes the motor andtransmission for driving the tub and electrical circuitry forcontrolling the operation through various modes. The invention disclosedherein is described as incorporated in such a washing machine of wellknown construction and more fully described in application Ser. No.809,796 and which generally includes, along with the internal structureand components necessary for washing clothes as therein adequatelydescribed, an outer cabinet structure having a front access doorhingedly attached thereto. From the following description it will beevident that the invention could also be used in the wellknown toploading type laundry apparatus.

Reference numeral 10 designates the front panel of a wash ing machinewhich has an access opening therein and which supports a door 12hingedly attached thereto as by a hinge 14 for pivotally moving the door12 between open and closed positions.

The front panel 10 also supports a door switch 16 having a plunger 18forwardlyprotruding therethrough which is generally in the path of thedoor 12. However in the present invention, door 12 has an aperture 20therein which is aligned with the plunger 18 so that the door can befully closed without depressing the plunger.

A rod 24 is mounted for longitudinal movement within the door 12 onL-shaped guide brackets 22 securely attached to the door. The rod 24 hasa short length extending exteriorly above the door and terminating in abutton 26. A stop 28 is securely fastened to the lower end of the rodbelow the lowermost guide bracket, and a compression spring 27 isinterposed between the stop and the bottom of the door to normally biasthe rod toward its upper position as limited by the stop abutting theguide bracket.

A cam mechanism 30 is attached to the rod 24 intermediate of the guidemeans and generally above aperture 20 when the rod is in its upperposition. The rod, cam means, and aperture are so aligned thatdepressing the rod causes the cam means to traverse the aperture. 'Cammeans 30 has a cam surface 32 tapered inwardly to a generally straightor dwell surface 34. The straight surface 34 is interrupted by a notch36 having generally straight walls 38.

Assuming the main line switch of the control circuit of the machine isclosed and that, in the electrical circuitry, the door switch isinterposed between the main switch and the remaining contacts whichcontrol the various modes of operation of the machine, the machine canonly be started by closing the door 12 and then depressing the rod 24.Merely closing the door permits plunger 18 to enter aperture 26 in thedoor without being depressed. However, subsequently pushing the roddownwardly against the bias of spring 27 places cam surface 32 adjacentplunger 18 and further depression moves the plunger rearwardly to aposition where the door switch is closed. Plunger 18 is spring biasedalso as is well known in the art so that continued downward movement ofthe cam mechanism 30 brings notch 36 in alignment with plunger 18permitting outward movement of the plunger where it rests against thestraight wall 38 of the notch. The plunger of the still closed switchthus maintains the cam mechanism 30 in its depressed operative positionagainst the upward bias of spring 27 for continued operation of themachine.

Upon opening the door 12 the plunger is moved from notch. 36 and thespring 27 forces rod 24 and cam mechanism 30 upward so that the abovedescribed procedure must be repeated whenever the door is closed toplace the machine in operation.

In the FIG. 3 embodiment, the door switch is movably mounted so thatwhen the door is open, the plunger 18 cannot be-manually depressedto;start the machine. The structure common to FIG. 1 will be describedwith common reference numerals.

Door switch 16 of FIG. 3 is mounted on a pivotal bracket meanscomprising a lever 40 having a central member 42 pivotally attached byany well-known'means such as a bolt and nut to the interior of the frontpanel 10 with a first arm 44 extending generally upwardly from one endthereof and on which the switch 16 is secured. A second arm 46 extendsdownwardly from the other end of member 42 and terminates adjacent thehinge 14 such that it rides on the top surface thereof. Thus, as thedoors close, the hinge cams the second arm causing the lever 40 to pivotclockwise about the pivot point as viewed in FIG. 3.

The front panel has an aperture 48 in alignment with the switch 16 sothat as the first arm 44 carrying the switch is rotated towards thefront panel, the switch can extend therethrough.

A leaf spring 50 is mounted at one end to the panel with its free end incontact with the switch 16 and forces the lever to be normally biased ina counterclockwise direction.

Therefore, whenever the door is closed, the switch 16 is carriedforwardly by the lever 40 so that its plunger 18 extends through theaperture 48 of the front panel 10 and can be actuated with cam mechanism30 similar to theembodiment of FIG. 1; however, when the door is opened,the spring 50 causes lever 40 to rotate counterclockwise and withdrawsthe switch 16 through the aperture 48 so as to make it unaccessible tomanual operation.

A still further embodiment of the present invention is disclosed in FIG.4 wherein the door switch 16 is mounted on the first arm 44 of lever 40similar to FIG. 3; however, in this embodiment there is no aperture inthe front panel '10 and thus the switch 16 always remains interiorly ofthe cabinet. A rodin-tube assembly 52 comprising a flexible plastic tube54 having a thin flexible plastic rod 56 movably retained therein ismounted such that the assembly 52 leads from any convenient position onthe exterior of the cabinet such as the back splasher (not shown) tobehind the front panel 10 in proximity to the door switch 16 and is heldin place by any well-known means such as clamps 58.

A block 60 is attached to the end of the rod 56 extending from the tubeadjacent the switch 16 and a spring 62 is attached to the block at oneend with the other end attached to the front panel 10 to normallymaintain the block in a position which obstructs the clockwise rotationof thefirst arm 44 of the lever 40 as it is pivoted by the hinge 14 asdiscussed in the previous embodiment.

The first arm 44 of lever 40 is flexible and has a slight offset portion64 providing a shoulder 66.

In this embodiment, as the door 12 closes, the hinge forces lever 40clockwise. However, block 60 prevents the first arm 44 from rotating,thereby flexing it backwards. After the door is closed, rod 56 is pulledfrom a button 68 attached to its exteriorly extending end against thebias of spring 62, moving the block 60 upward to the offset portion 64of the arm 44 and thereby permitting clockwise rotation of arm 44 suchthat the plunger 18 of switch 16 is forced against the front panel 10closing the switch. Releasing the rod 56 causes block 60 to rest onshoulder 66 asbiased by spring 62 until the door 12 is again openedwhereupon the switch 16 is rotated counterclockwise by the hinge and therod and block return to blocking position.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. and 6 shows the door switch 16 mounted ona free end of a spring arm 70 stationarily attached at the other end tothe cabinet such as by a screw 74 through a flange 72 attached to thefront panel as by spot welding. The spring arm 70'is mounted ingenerally vertical alignment with a pin 73 horizontally extending fromthe door hinge 14 so that the pin 73 abuts spring arm 70 urging it in acounterclockwise direction about screw 74 when the door is closed.

The spring arm 70 has generally T-shaped aperture 76 adjacent the switchfor receiving movable abutment member 78 having a central guide tongueextending from one end providing shoulders 82 and 84. Guides 86 movablysupport member 78 on the front panel 10 for-vertical movement.

The end of member 78 opposite the tongue 80 and shoulders 82 and 84 hasan inturned flange 88 to which is attached the movable rod 24 of rod andtube assembly '52. The rod and tube assembly is received in an aperture77 of the flange 72 with the tube securely held therein as by an annularcollar 75 and the rod extending to and secured in abutment member 78. Aspring 27 is interposed about the rod between the inturned flange 72 andflange 88 to normally bias member 78 to its lowermost position. Therod-and-tube assembly 52 leads from the flange 72 to any convenientlocation external of the cabinet as the splasher panel for example.

With the door open, the door switch 16, spring arm 70 and abutmentmember 78 are in the position shown FIG. 5; how ever, when the door isclosed, pin 73 abuts spring arm 70 mg ing it in a counterclockwisedirection. The abutment member 78, remains in the position shown withthe tongue portion 80 received in the shank portion of aperture 76 andshoulders 82 and 84 preventing rotation of the spring arm. Thus, the pincauses the spring arm to deflect. After the door is closed, the rod 56is pulled against the bias of spring 27 moving the shoulders 82, 84,into alignment with the head portion of aperture 76 permitting thespring arm to move counterclockwise where the plunger 18 of the switch16 is forced against the front panel closing the switch to start theapparatus. Upon opening the door, the abutment of the pin is removedallowing spring arm 70 to return to its normal unbiased position,opening switch 16 and permitting abutment member 78 as biased by spring27 to return to its lowermost position from wherethe above proceduremust again be repeated after the door is closed.

Thus, there is provided various embodiments of a safety mechanismrequiring the door of the laundry apparatus to first be closed and amanual function thereafter performed before operation of the machine canstart, thereby eliminating accidental or unexpected start.

I claim as my invention;

1. A safety mechanism for a laundry apparatus having a cabinet,including an access door hingedly supported thereon, and an electricalcircuit for controlling the operation of said apparatus, and whereinsaid circuit includes a normally open switch, comprising: 7

switch controlmeans, including means movable between a first and secondposition independently of said door, for effecting closure of saidswitch when said movable means is in said first position and said dooris closed;

means urging said movable means to said second position preventingclosure of said switch by said movable means irrespective of theposition of said door; and

means retaining said movable means in said first position only when saiddoor is closed whereby said switch is in a closed position to completesaid circuit to permit operation only afterboth the steps of closingsaid door and moving said movable means to said first position have beenaccomplished.

'2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said door includes an aperture,said switch is mounted on said cabinet and including an actuatingportion projecting into said aperture when said door is closed andwherein said movable means comprises:

' cam means movable across said aperture for engagement with saidactuating portion to effect closure of said switch. 7

3. The'structure of claim 2 wherein said switch control means furtherincludes:

lever means movably mounting said switch on said cabinet;

said switch supported on said lever adjacent one end; and,

lever engaging means movable with said door to move said lever inresponse to movement of said door between opened and closed position.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said retaining means comprises:

a shoulder area on said cam means; and

means engaging said shoulder area when said cam means is moved to saidfirst position and said door is shut to maintain said cam means in saidfirst position against the bias of said urging means. 5. The structureof claim 1 wherein said switch control means further includes:

lever means movably mounting said switch on said cabinet;

' said switch supported on said lever means adjacent one end;

and, lever engaging means movable with said door to move said levermeans in response to movement of said door between opened and closedposition.

6. Structure according to claim 5 wherein said movable means comprises:

manually operable rod means; and,

blocking means attached to said rod means for obstructing movement ofsaid lever means in said second position.

7. Structure according to claim 6 wherein said lever means comprises:

a first arm supporting said switch;

. a second arm engaging said lever engaging means movable with saiddoor; and,

an interconnecting portion joining said first and second arm, said levermeans pivotably attached to said cabinet at said interconnectingportion.

8. Structure according to claim 7 wherein said means for retaining saidmovable means comprises a shoulder in said first arm of said levermeans.

9. Structure according to claim 6 wherein said lever means comprises aleaf spring attached to said cabinet at one end,

said switch attached to the other end of said leaf spring.

10. Structure according to claim 9 wherein said means for retaining saidmovable means comprises:

an aperture in said leaf spring, said aperture having generally twoseparate portions of different width;

one of said portions receiving only a selective part of said blockingmeans in guiding relationship; and,

the other of said portions permitting passage of the blocking meanstherethrough to remove the blocking means from blocking position whensaid movable means is moved to said first position and said door isclosed.

11. In laundry apparatus including a cabinet having a hingedly attacheddoor, a safety control arrangement comprising:

a normally open safety switch for controlling operation of saidapparatus;

manually operated movable means having a first position for closing saidswitch and a second position ineffective to close said switch;

means controlled by said door for preventing said movable means in saidfirst position from closing said switch except when said door is closed;and

means for retaining said movable means in said first position only whensaid door is closed.

12. in apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said door controlledmeans includes means for physically displacing said switch to aninaccessible position when said door is open.

13. In apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said movable means iscarried by said door.

1. A safety mechanism for a laundry apparatus having a cabinet,including an access door hingedly supported thereon, and an electricalcircuit for controlling the operation of said apparatus, and whereinsaid circuit includes a normally open switch, comprising: switch controlmeans, including means movable between a first and second positionindependently of said door, for effecting closure of said switch whensaid movable means is in said first position and said door is closed;means urging said movable means to said second position preventingclosure of said switch by said movable means irrespective of theposition of said door; and means retaining said movable means in saidfirst position only when said door is closed whereby said switch is in aclosed position to complete said cirCuit to permit operation only afterboth the steps of closing said door and moving said movable means tosaid first position have been accomplished.
 2. The structure of claim 1wherein said door includes an aperture, said switch is mounted on saidcabinet and including an actuating portion projecting into said aperturewhen said door is closed and wherein said movable means comprises: cammeans movable across said aperture for engagement with said actuatingportion to effect closure of said switch.
 3. The structure of claim 2wherein said switch control means further includes: lever means movablymounting said switch on said cabinet; said switch supported on saidlever adjacent one end; and, lever engaging means movable with said doorto move said lever in response to movement of said door between openedand closed position.
 4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said retainingmeans comprises: a shoulder area on said cam means; and means engagingsaid shoulder area when said cam means is moved to said first positionand said door is shut to maintain said cam means in said first positionagainst the bias of said urging means.
 5. The structure of claim 1wherein said switch control means further includes: lever means movablymounting said switch on said cabinet; said switch supported on saidlever means adjacent one end; and, lever engaging means movable withsaid door to move said lever means in response to movement of said doorbetween opened and closed position.
 6. Structure according to claim 5wherein said movable means comprises: manually operable rod means; and,blocking means attached to said rod means for obstructing movement ofsaid lever means in said second position.
 7. Structure according toclaim 6 wherein said lever means comprises: a first arm supporting saidswitch; a second arm engaging said lever engaging means movable withsaid door; and, an interconnecting portion joining said first and secondarm, said lever means pivotably attached to said cabinet at saidinterconnecting portion.
 8. Structure according to claim 7 wherein saidmeans for retaining said movable means comprises a shoulder in saidfirst arm of said lever means.
 9. Structure according to claim 6 whereinsaid lever means comprises a leaf spring attached to said cabinet at oneend, said switch attached to the other end of said leaf spring. 10.Structure according to claim 9 wherein said means for retaining saidmovable means comprises: an aperture in said leaf spring, said aperturehaving generally two separate portions of different width; one of saidportions receiving only a selective part of said blocking means inguiding relationship; and, the other of said portions permitting passageof the blocking means therethrough to remove the blocking means fromblocking position when said movable means is moved to said firstposition and said door is closed.
 11. In laundry apparatus including acabinet having a hingedly attached door, a safety control arrangementcomprising: a normally open safety switch for controlling operation ofsaid apparatus; manually operated movable means having a first positionfor closing said switch and a second position ineffective to close saidswitch; means controlled by said door for preventing said movable meansin said first position from closing said switch except when said door isclosed; and means for retaining said movable means in said firstposition only when said door is closed.
 12. In apparatus according toclaim 11 wherein said door controlled means includes means forphysically displacing said switch to an inaccessible position when saiddoor is open.
 13. In apparatus according to claim 11 wherein saidmovable means is carried by said door.